Footwear

ABSTRACT

Footwear is provided which enables each component to be separated, to be unified as a whole without looseness, and various combinations of design with color to be realized. The sole holder assembly  11  has a sole assembly  111  and a holder portion  112  to cover the sole assembly  111  from a lower side. The sole assembly  111  has the first sole portion  1111,  second sole portion  1112,  and pins  1113  to fix these components. Each of the first sole portion  1111  and second sole portion  1112  has a shape that allows these two portions to be connected in an engaged manner and, with these components being connected to each other in an engaged manner, at least part of the first sole portion  1111  is located so as to be in contact with an upper portion of at least part of the second sole portion  1112  and at least part of the second sole portion  1112  is located so as to be in contact with an upper portion of at least part of the first sole portion  1111.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to footwear and particularly to assembly-type footwear.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally-available footwear is formed in a manner in which an instep leather portion, inner sole portion, and outer sole portion are fixed as a whole. As a result, it is, in general, impossible for a user to change design and/or color of the footwear fixedly assembled.

Under the present conditions or circumstances, a user possesses a plurality of pairs of footwear and selects one pair of footwear each time so as to match the footwear to design and/or color of clothes to put on and/or a bag or the like to carry.

To solve such problems as above, following methods for solving are disclosed. For example, separable-type shoes are disclosed in Patent Reference 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-512471) which enable only an instep leather portion to be replaced by separating the instep leather portion from other components, thereby realizing the same effect as is obtained by possessing a plurality of pairs of footwear.

Also, assembly-type sandals are disclosed in Patent Reference 2 (Examined Utility Model Registration No. 3045031) which enable a spat belt portion, inner sole portion, and an outer sole portion to be separated from one another so that the sandals can be used for a long time and sandal fashion level can be improved by combinations of design with color.

Moreover, a module-type footwear structure is disclosed in Patent Reference 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-178687) which enables each component making up the footwear to be fixed to each other without using a bonding agent. By employing this structure, various methods of using footwear are achieved by combining the footwear to be used indoors with footwear to be used outdoors.

However, the above conventional technologies have difficulties described below. That is, in the above technologies, each component making up footwear can be separated from each other, however, due to its separable structure, it has now become difficult to fitly and tightly unify the whole components without looseness. That is, the weight of a user is loaded on footwear which causes a fear that the footwear is broken depending on the application of stress.

Furthermore, in the conventional technologies, a user can enjoy various more design and color by combining each portion of the footwear, there is no description that the further combinations of design with color that had not existed in the conventional footwear can be realized by performing new contrivance to structures of each portion itself making up the footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide footwear which enables each component to be separated, to be unified as a whole without looseness, and various combinations of design with color to be realized.

To accomplish the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided footwear including a sole assembly having a first sole portion and a second sole portion, wherein each of the first sole portion and the second sole portion has a shape that allows connection, in an engaged manner, between the first sole portion and the second sole portion and wherein, in a state in which the first sole portion and second sole portion are connected, in an engaged manner, to each other, at least part of the first sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of at least part of the second sole portion and at least part of the second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of at least part of the first sole portion.

By configuring as above, each component making up the footwear can be separated from each other and can be unified tightly without looseness and various combinations of design with color can be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is the footwear wherein the first sole portion and the second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a state in which the first sole portion has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the second sole portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a nail tip side of the second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with a lower side of the first sole portion and at least part of a portion on a heel side of the second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the first sole portion.

By configuring as above, the footwear assembly is made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a whole without looseness.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein an internal surface portion surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion and an external surface portion on a nail tip side of the second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.

By configuring as above, the assembly of the footwear is also made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a whole without looseness.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein the first sole portion and the second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a state in which the second sole portion has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the first sole portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a heel side of the first sole portion is located so as to be in contact with a lower side of the second sole portion and at least part of a portion on a nail tip side of the first sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the second sole portion.

By configuring as above, the assembly of the footwear is also made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a whole without looseness.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein an internal surface portion surrounding the hole formed in the second sole portion and an external surface portion on a nail tip side of the first sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.

By configuring as above, the assembly of the footwear is also made easy and the sole assembly can be unified tightly as a whole without looseness.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear which further includes a holder portion to cover the sole assembly from a lower side, wherein the sole assembly and the holder portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.

By configuring as above, the existence of the holder portion enables entire components making up the footwear to be unified tightly as a whole without looseness and various combinations of design with color to be enjoyed by a user.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein a portion connected, in an engaged manner, to the sole assembly of the holder portion is harder than a portion connected, in an engaged manner, to the holder portion of the sole assembly.

By configuring as above, the holder portion and sole assembly are made hard to be disconnected from each other.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein the sole assembly has pins each passing through the first sole portion and the second sole portion, in a region of an arch of a foot, in up and down directions and wherein the pins prevent the first and second sole portions from being deviated in back and forth directions.

By configuring as above, the pins make it possible to prevent deviation between the first sole portion and second sole portion mainly in back and forth directions.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein the holder portion has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the outer sole has a protruding portion constructed to be protruded so that part of the sole assembly passes through the hole of the holder portion.

By configuring as above, the outer sole made of a suitable material can be selected and various combinations of design and color including the outer sole can be enjoyed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein at least one of the sole portion and second sole portion has an inner sole made of a first material and an outer sole made of a second material different from that of the first material.

By configuring as above, combinations of materials making up the inner sole and outer sole can be selected and, as a result, it is made possible to achieve the easiness of assembly, comfortableness of wearing, gripping performance of the outer sole, prevention of excessive abrasion of the outer sole and excessive deformation of an entire configuration of the footwear.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear wherein, in a state in which the first sole portion and second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner, at least one of a portion where the first sole portion is in contact with the second sole portion and a portion where the second sole portion is in contact with the first sole portion has convex and concave portions, which prevent the first and second sole portions from being deviated in right and left directions or in up and down directions.

By configuring as above, the deviation of the first sole portion and second sole portion mainly in right and left directions and up and down direction can be prevented.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the footwear which further includes an instep leather portion, wherein the instep leather portion has a first part extending from the first part in an upward direction, a second part extending from the second part in an upward direction, and a connecting mechanism which connects the first part to the second part so as to be touchable to or detachable from each other.

By configuring as above, the inconvenience can be avoided which is caused by the separation between the portion formed on an upper side of the first sole portion making up the instep leather portion and the portion formed on an upper side of the second sole portion occurring when shoes such as boots having height in an instep leather position are constructed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sole holder assembly prior to assembling of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining one example of assembling methods of a shoe of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane perpendicular to back and forth directions of the shoe of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane perpendicular to back and forth directions of the shoe of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining a shoe of a modified example of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams explaining a difference in structure between the shoe of the embodiment of the present invention and the shoe of the modified example of the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is described by referring to drawings. In the embodiment, a shoe 1 is explained as one concrete example of footwear.

The shoe 1 is made up of a sole holder assembly 11 on which a user puts his/her foot and an instep leather portion 12 which is drawn and extended from side end portions of the sole holder assembly 11 and covers an instep of the user foot or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the sole holder assembly 11 before being assembled according to the present invention.

The sole holder assembly 11 has a sole assembly 111 and a holder portion 112 to cover the sole assembly 11 from its lower side.

The sole assembly 111 is made up of a first sole portion 1111, second sole portion 1112, and pins 1113 with which the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are fastened.

The first sole portion 1111 has a first inner sole 11111 and a first outer sole 11112.

The second sole portion 1112 has a second inner sole 11121 and a second outer sole 11122.

The first inner sole 11111 is made of, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer (hereinafter referred simply to as “EVA”). The reason for using the EVA as the material is that the EVA is a comparatively soft material and, therefore, is convenient for assembling the sole assembly 111 as described later and, since the first inner sole 11111 is a portion which touches the sole of a foot, the EVA being soft to some extent is a suitable material.

In a region near to a nail tip side of the first inner sole 11111 is formed a hole which passes through the sole portions, for example, in up and down directions.

The first inner sole 11111 also has, for example, a portion surrounding the hole and a portion having a disc shape used to put part of the second sole portion 1112.

While the shoe 1 is being used, for example, the portion surrounding the hole is located on the nail tip side of the shoe 1 and the portion having the disc shape is located on its heel side.

The first outer sole 1112 is made of, for example, rubber. As described above, since the first inner sole 11111 is made of the comparatively soft EVA, by making the first outer sole 11112 of comparatively hard rubber, distortion of the entire shoe 1 and excessive wear of the outer sole 11112 is prevented.

The first outer sole 11112 is a plate-like material having an approximately semicircular shape.

An upper side portion of the first outer sole 11112 is bonded to a lower side portion of the heel of the first inner sole 11111 by using, for example, a bonding agent.

A portion contacting the ground, while the shoe 1 is being used, on a lower side of the first outer sole 11112 has convex and concave portions that provide strong frictional force in back and forth directions and in right and left directions.

The second inner sole 11121 is made of, for example, EVA. The reason for using the EVA as the material is that the EVA is the comparatively soft material and, therefore, is convenient for assembling the sole assembly 111 as described later and, since the second inner sole 11121 is a portion which touches the sole of a foot, the EVA being soft to some extent is a suitable material.

The second inner sole 11121 has a portion with a disc shape being put on the first sole portion 1111 and a portion of a plate material like a gourd swollen in its body which extends from the portion having the disc shape and has a plate-like configuration with its center being contracted as a whole when seen from above.

While the shoe 1 is being used, for example, the portion having the disc shape described above is located on the heel side of the shoe 1 and the gourd-like plate material is located on its nail tip side.

The second outer sole 11122 is made of, for example, rubber. As described above, since the second inner sole 11121 is made of the comparatively soft EVA, by making the second outer sole 11122 of comparatively hard rubber, distortion of the entire shoe 1 and excessive wear of the second outer sole 11122 is prevented.

The second outer sole 11122 is a plate-like material having an approximately elliptical shape.

A portion near to a center on an upper side of the second outer sole 11122 is bonded, for example, with a bonding agent, to a lower side portion of the second inner sole 11121.

The second outer sole 11122, when seen from above, covers an area wider than that of the second inner sole portion 11121.

A portion contacting the ground while the shoe 1 is used on a lower side of the second outer sole 11122 has convex and concave portions that provide strong frictional force in back and forth directions and in right and left directions.

When the first sole portion 1111 is connected to the second sole portion 1112 in an engaged manner, into the hole formed in the first inner sole 11111 enters the nail tip side portion of the second outer sole 11121 from the upper side and the portion surrounding the hole formed in the first inner sole 11111 is connected to a plate material portion like the gourd of the second inner sole 11121 and the first inner sole 11111 and second outer sole 11122 are put on the second outer sole 11122.

Then, the portion having the disc shape in the second inner sole 11121 is put on the portion having the disc shape of the first inner sole 11111.

As a result, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a state in which the second sole portion 1112 passes through the hole formed in the first sole portion 1111 and at least part on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact with a lower side of the first sole portion 1111 and at least part of the portion on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side of the first sole portion 1111.

In this case, the internal surface portion surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion 1111 and the external surface portion on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner.

By configuring the shoe 1 as above, when a user puts his/her foot on the sole assembly 111, on the nail tip side of the foot, the first sole portion 1111 presses the second sole portion 1112 from an upper side to a lower side and, on the heel side of the foot, the second sole portion 1112 presses the first sole portion 1111 from an upper side to a lower side, thus realizing, as a whole, the looseness-free and tightly unified sole assembly 111.

In the first inner sole 11111 and the second outer sole 11122, on both left and right sides of portions (arch of the foot) near to a center of each of the directions (hereinafter, back and forth directions) from the nail tip side to the heel side, holes passing through the soles which are used to allow pins to run through the soles in order to connect the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 to each other in up and down directions.

Each of the pins 1113 has a bowl and an axis and two pins 1113 are used for one sole assembly 111. The existence of the pins 1113 prevents positional deviation caused by movement of the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 mainly in back and forth directions while the shoe 1 is being used. Since the pins 1113 are located in the portion of the arch of the foot, the pins 1113 are not pushed by pressure directly from a foot of a user in a downward direction. As a result, there are decreased risks that the pins 1113 are deformed and broken caused by the use of the shoe 1.

Additionally, a stopper may be provided to support a portion near to a tip end of the pin 1113 in a state in which each of the pins 1113 has passed through the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112.

Moreover, in a state in which the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner, in a portion where the first sole portion 1111 is in contact with the second sole portion 1112 and in a portion where the second sole portion 1112 is in contact with the first sole portion 1111, convex and concave portions are formed, for example, in a horizontal direction, which prevents positional deviation of the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 in right and left directions and in up and down directions.

The holder portion 112 is made of a thermoplastic polyurethane resin (hereinafter simply “PTU”).

The portion being connected, in an engaged manner, to the sole assembly 111 of the holder portion 112 is harder than the portion being connected, in an engaged manner, to the holder portion 112 of the sole assembly 111. As a result, when the holder portion 112 is connected to the sole assembly 111 in an engaged manner and the assembling of the sole holder assembly 11 is completed, the above configuration provides a merit that the holder portion 112 and sole assembly 111 are hard to be disconnected from each other.

On a bottom surface of the holder portion 112 is formed a plurality of holes which passes through the holder portion 112 in up and down directions. The existence of the holes causes the first outer sole 1112 and part of the second outer sole 1112 to come into direct contact with the ground.

One example of assembling methods of the shoe 1 having such configurations as above is explained by referring to drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining one example of assembling methods of the shoe 1 of the present embodiment.

First, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are prepared. To each of the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 is attached an instep leather portion 12.

To the hole formed in the first sole portion 1111 is inserted, from an upper side, a nail tip side portion of the second sole portion 1112. Then, the contracted portion located near to an intermediate point of the second sole portion 1112 is fitted into the portion surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion 1111.

In this state, by rotating the second sole portion 1112, centering on the contracted portion descried above, relative to the first sole portion 1111, the first sole portion 1111 is connected to the second sole portion 1112 in an engaged manner.

More specifically, the portion (that is, portion on the nail tip side) surrounding the hole in the first inner sole 11111 is allowed to be connected to the second inner sole 11121 and the first inner sole 11111 and second inner sole 11121 are put on the second outer sole 11122. Then, the portion (that is, portion on the heel side) having the disc shape of the second inner sole 11121 is allowed to be put on the portion having the disc shape of the first inner sole portion 11111.

Then, the right and left two pins 1113 are allowed to pass, from the upper side, through the holes formed in the first inner sole 11111 and second outer sole 11122. The portion near the end of each of the two pins 1113 is supported by the above stopper. This causes the assembling of the sole assembly 111 with the instep leather portion 12 to be completed.

The sole assembly 111 in the above state is held by the holder portion 112 in a manner to be covered from the lower side. As described above, when the sole assembly 111 is connected to the holder portion 112 in an engaged manner, the holder portion 112 is harder than the sole assembly 111 and, therefore, the sole assembly 111 and holder portion 112, when being connected to each other, are hard to be disconnected from each other. This makes the assembling of the sole holder assembly 11 with the instep leather portion 12 be completed, that is, the assembling of the shoe 1 is completed.

Moreover, as described above, part of each of the first outer sole 11112 and of the second outer sole 11122 is protruded from the hole formed in the holder portion 112 and the protruded portions constitute the outer soles of the shoe 1, thereby allowing the shoe 1 to have high gripping performance. Moreover, the first outer sole 11112 and second outer sole 11122 are made of rubber, thus enabling the prevention of excessive friction in the outer soles 11112 and 11122.

Thus, the connection between the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 in an engaged manner can be very easily achieved and detachment between the pin 1113 and the stopper described above is also easy and, as a result, the assembling of the shoe 1 can be realized very easily.

Therefore, a user can be ready to change the combinations of design with color among the first sole portion 1111, second sole portion 1112, and holder portion 112.

Next, the state of the connection in an engaged manner is described between the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 in the shoe 1 in the completed state by referring to drawings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along plane perpendicular to back and forth directions of the shoe 1. The shoe shown in each of FIGS. 3 and 4 has a configuration being a bit different from the shoe 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the difference is negligible in terms of explanation and the description of the difference is omitted accordingly.

In the cross-sectional view B-B′, when the review is started from the nail tip side, the state is shown in which the first inner sole 11111 is connected to the second inner sole 11121 in an engaged manner and the first and second inner soles 11111 and 11121 are put on the second outer sole 11122.

Next, in the cross-sectional view C-C′, the instep leather portion 12 is higher than that shown in the cross-sectional view B-B′, however, the connection state in an engaged manner between the first inner sole 11111 and the second inner sole 11121 in the cross-sectional view C-C′ is approximately the same as in the cross-sectional view B-B′.

Moreover, in the cross-sectional view D-D′, the central contracted portion is shown as the second inner sole 11121 and, in its right and left portions, the pins are shown as the pins 1113 and the above-described stopper is seen therein.

Lastly, in the cross-sectional view E-E′, on the portion having a disc shape on the heel side of the first sole portion 1111 is put the portion having the disk shape on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112.

The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways within the scope of technical thoughts.

In the above embodiment, the shoe 1 is provided with the instep leather portion 12, however, sandals having no instep leather portion 12 may be also employed in the present invention.

Further, in the above embodiment, two pins 1113 are used in the sole holder assembly 11, however, the number of the pins is not limited and three pins or one pin can be employed as well and, if there is no special problem, the use of the pins 1113 is not required. The same may be applied to the stopper. This is because the important point is whether or not the shoe 1 can be assembled easily.

Still further, in the above embodiment, the first sole portion 1111 has the first inner sole 11111 and first outer sole 11112, however, the inner and outer sole portions may be integrally formed.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first sole portion 1112 has the first inner sole 11121 and first outer sole 11122, however, the inner and outer sole portions may be integrally formed.

Also, in the above embodiment, the first inner sole 11111 is made of EVA and first outer sole 11112 is made of rubber, however, if no special problem arises, any material may be employed for the first inner sole 11111 and first outer sole 11112. Therefore, both the first inner sole 11111 and the second outer sole 11112 may be made of EVA.

Also, in the above embodiment, in the region near to the nail tip of the first inner sole 11111 is formed the hole passing through the soles in up and down directions, however, the present invention is not limited to this.

That is, if only the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 have the shapes which allow the connection to each other in an engaged manner and, in a state in which the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner, if only at least part of the first sole portion 1111 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side of at least part of the second sole portion 1112 and if only at least part of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side of the first sole portion 1111, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 may have any shape.

Therefore, the shape of each of the first inner sole 1111, first outer sole 11112, second inner sole 11121, and second outer sole 11122 is not limited to those described above.

Also, in the above embodiment, the upper side portion of the first outer sole 11112 is bonded to the lower side portion on the heel side of the first inner sole 11111, however, the both portions may be bonded by any other method.

Also, in the above embodiment, the portion contacting the ground, while the shoe 1 is being used, on the lower side of the first outer sole 11112 has convex and concave portions, however, the present invention is not limited to this. Consequently, it is not necessary that the portion contacting the ground has convex and concave portions.

Also, in the above embodiment, the second inner sole 11121 is made of EVA and second outer sole 11122 is made of rubber, however, if no special problem occurs, any material may be employed for the second inner sole 11121 and second outer sole 11122. Therefore, both the first inner sole 11111 and second outer sole 11112 may be made of EVA and may be integrally constructed.

Also, in the above embodiment, the portion near to the center of the upper side portion of the second outer sole 11122 is bonded to the lower side portion of the second inner sole 11121, however, the both portions may be connected by any other method.

Also, in the above embodiment, the portion contacting the ground, while the shoe 1 is being used, on the lower side of the second outer sole 11122 has convex and concave portions, however, the present invention is not limited to this. Consequently, it is not necessary that the portion contacting the ground has convex and concave portions.

In the above embodiment, in the first inner sole 11111 and the second outer sole 11122, on both left and right sides of portions near to a center of each of the back and forth directions holes passing through the soles which are used to allow the pins 1113 to run through the soles in up and down directions, however, in the case of the configurations having no pins 1113, it is not necessary to provide the hole described above accordingly.

Also, in the above embodiment, each of the pins 1113 has the bowl and axis, however, if no special problem occurs, the pins 1113 may have any shape. The stopper described above also may have any shape unless any problem arises.

In the above embodiment, in the state in which the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected in an engaged manner, the portion where the first sole portion 1111 is in contact with the second sole portion 1112 and the portion in which the second sole portion 1112 is in contact with the first sole portion 1111 have convex and concave portions, however, the formation of such convex and concave portions as above is not required unless any problem occurs.

Also, it is not necessary that the holder portion 112 is provided if no problem occurs.

Also, in the above embodiment, the holder portion 112 is made of TPU, however, unless any problem occurs, the holder portion 112 may be formed of any other material.

In the above embodiment, the portion connecting, in an engaged manner, to the sole assembly 111 of the holder portion 112 is harder than the portion connecting, in an engaged manner, to the holder portion 112 of the sole assembly 111, however, the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, the sole assembly 111 may be harder than the holder portion 112.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of holes is formed on the bottom surface of the holder portion 112, however, the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, a single hole may be formed on the bottom surface and the bottom surface may have no holes.

The shoe 1 is one example of the footwear and does not limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the footwear such as sandals falls within the scope of technical thoughts of the present invention. Thus, according to the present invention, the shoe 1 having various shapes such as boots may be configured by forming the upper portion on the nail tip side of the first sole portion 1111 integrally with the semi-cylindrical instep leather portion 12 having height in the upper region on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112 or by making the instep leather portion 12 having the same shape as above from the material such as leather or the like and sewing the instep leather to the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112.

When height occurs in the instep leather portion 12, part of the instep leather portion 12 formed in the upper portion on the nail tip side of the first sole portion 1111 is liable to be separated from part of the instep leather portion 12 formed in the upper portion on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112 while the shoe 1 is being used. In order to avoid such separation, there may be provided a connecting mechanism to connect two parts making up these instep leather portions 12 in a manner to be touchable to or detachable from each other. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an appearance of the shoe 1 having such a connecting mechanism.

In FIG. 5, part of the instep leather portion formed in the upper portion on the nail tip side of the first sole portion 1111 is shown as a forward part 121 and part of the instep leather portion formed in the upper portion on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112 is shown as a backward part 122. Moreover, in FIG. 5, the sole assembly 111 is covered by the holder portion 112 and, therefore, cannot be seen. The forward part 121 and the backward part 122 are connected to each other by the connecting mechanism. On the rear side not seen in FIG. 5 (it is supposed that the side shown in FIG. 5 is an inner heel side, the side not seen in FIG. 5 is an external heel side), the forward part 121 and backward part 122 are also connected to each other by the connecting mechanism.

In the shoe 1 illustrated in FIG. 5, the connecting mechanism 13, by passing the button sewed to the surface on the external side of the backward part 122 through the button hole formed in the forward parts 121, connects these parts in a manner to be touchable or detachable, however, the method used by the connecting mechanism to connect the forward part 121 and backward part 122 in a manner to be touchable or detachable is not limited to the use of the button and button hole. For example, instead of the button and button hole, a line fastener or surface fastener may be employed as the connecting mechanism or the method by running straps through a plurality of strap holes may be used as the connecting mechanism.

Additionally, the method for assembling the shoe 1 described above is simply one example and the present invention is not limited to the above method.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The modified example of the above embodiment is described by referring to drawings. It is natural that the modified example falls in the scope of technical thoughts of the present invention. The difference in structure between the shoe of the present embodiment and shoe of modified embodiment is mainly described.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are the diagram explaining the difference between the shoe of the embodiment of the present invention and the shoe of the modified example of the present embodiment.

As is schematically shown in the above-described embodiment of FIG. 6A, the first sole portion 1111 is connected, in an engaged manner, to the second sole portion 1112 in the state in which the first sole portion 1111 has a hole passing through in up and down directions in the portion near to the nail tip and the second sole portion 1112 passes through the hole and at least part of the portion on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact with the lower side of the first sole portion 1111 and at least part of the portion on the heel side of the second sole portion 1112 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side of the first sole portion 1111.

Incidentally, as is schematically shown in the modified example of FIG. 6B, the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112 are connected to each other in an engaged manner in the state in which the second sole portion 1112 has a hole passing through in up and down directions in the portion near to the nail tip and at least part of the portion on the heel side of the first sole portion 1111 is located so as to be in contact with the lower side of the second sole portion 1112 and at least part of the portion on the nail tip side of the second sole portion 1111 is located so as to be in contact with the upper side of the first sole portion 1112.

Thus, the present invention provides many variations in the methods for engaged-manner connection between the first sole portion 1111 and second sole portion 1112, which enables selection of suitable configurations to correspond to various situations for assembling normal shoes and/or sandals.

The shoes of the present invention can be expected to be used in various situations owing to its excellent and looseness-free stability and high fashion level and is therefore attributable to, so-called manufacturing industries. 

1. Footwear comprising a sole assembly having a first sole portion and a second sole portion; wherein each of the first sole portion and the second sole portion has a shape that allows connection, in an engaged manner, between the first sole portion and the second sole portion and wherein, in a state in which the first sole portion and second sole portion are connected, in an engaged manner, to each other, at least part of the first sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of at least part of the second sole portion and at least part of the second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of at least part of the first sole portion.
 2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first sole portion and the second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a state in which the first sole portion has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the second sole portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a nail tip side of the second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with a lower side of the first sole portion and at least part of a portion on a heel side of the second sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the first sole portion.
 3. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein an internal surface portion surrounding the hole formed in the first sole portion and an external surface portion on a nail tip side of the second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
 4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first sole portion and the second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner in a state in which the second sole portion has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the first sole portion passes through the hole and at least part of a portion on a heel side of the first sole portion is located so as to be in contact with a lower side of the second sole portion and at least part of a portion on a nail tip side of the first sole portion is located so as to be in contact with an upper side of the second sole portion.
 5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein an internal surface portion surrounding the hole formed in the second sole portion and an external surface portion on a nail tip side of the first sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
 6. The footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a holder portion to cover the sole assembly from a lower side, wherein the sole assembly and the holder portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner.
 7. The footwear according to claim 6, wherein a portion connected, in an engaged manner, to the sole assembly of the holder portion is harder than a portion connected, in an engaged manner, to the holder portion of the sole assembly.
 8. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole assembly has pins each passing through the first sole portion and the second sole portion, in a region of an arch of a foot, in up and down directions, wherein the pins prevent the first and second sole portions from being deviated in back and forth directions.
 9. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the holder portion has a hole passing through in up and down directions and the outer sole has a protruding portion constructed to be protruded so that part of the sole assembly passes through the hole of the holder portion.
 10. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sole portion and second sole portion has an inner sole made of a first material and an outer sole made of a second material different from that of the first material.
 11. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein, in a state in which the first sole portion and second sole portion are connected to each other in an engaged manner, at least one of a portion where the first sole portion is in contact with the second sole portion and a portion where the second sole portion is in contact with the first sole portion has convex and concave portions, which prevent the first and second sole portions from being deviated in right and left directions or in up and down directions.
 12. The footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an instep leather portion; wherein the instep leather portion has a first part extending from the first part in an upward direction, a second part extending from the second part in an upward direction, and a connecting mechanism which connects the first part to the second part so as to be touchable to or detachable from each other. 